Page 109 of The Lottery

* * *

ZAE

“No! Marek no!”

The bear was charging me. It gutted Buddy and was coming for me.

Then he appeared out of nowhere.

Flew at the bear.

The bear flew at him.

Then they were gone.

Over.

The.

Cliff.

Down down down down.

I cannot tell if my screams are out loud or only in my head.

I see him as he falls.

Clutching the bear.

The bear’s claws clutching him.

My heart breaks.

The cold takes me.

Everything goes black.

28

ZAE

“Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.”

– Carl Sagan

* * *

Marek leans over me, one hand behind my head, the other resting gently on my belly.

“Let me be the one to kiss you, moya lyubov, now and forever.”

Love swells within me, I move my lips toward his…

* * *

...and I kiss the air.

There is nothing.